That Dot on the Screen: also, what about Born? and other objections to wavefunction physics

2025/04/22 by W. David Wick, Wick, W. David · 1 voice · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #physics.gen-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2504.17808

openalex publication_date 2025/04/22 · arxiv published 2025/04/22 · arxiv updated 2025/04/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

In this paper I address the most common objections to the claim that Schrodinger was right in 1926: the wavefunction provides the correct, and complete, description of atomic phenomena. I suggest that the line of droplets in the Wilson cloud chamber, the click of the ``photon detector", and ``that dot on the screen" can all be explained within a context of wavefunction models and Schrodinger's-type equations, albeit nonlinear. No auxiliary hypotheses about point particles or probabilities are required. The random locations of the triggered ``particle detectors" can be explained by ``chaos" (meaning sensitive dependence on initial conditions). Even Born's ad hoc invocation of probabilities may be justifiable in certain circumstances. As an illustration, I present simulations from a (toy) wavefunction ``particle-detectors" model.

Citations

• Chaos in a Nonlinear Wavefunction Model: An Alternative to Born's Probability Hypothesis
• On Non-Linear Quantum Mechanics, Space-Time Wavefunctions, and Compatibility with General Relativity
• On Non-Linear Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Problem IV. Experimental Tests
• On Non-Linear Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Problem III. Poincare Probability and ... Chaos?
• On Non-Linear Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Problem II. The Random Part of the Wavefunction
• On Non-linear Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Problem I. Blocking Cats
• Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?
• Zur Quantenmechanik der Sto�vorg�nge

Cited by

• Nonlinear Nonlocal: Comparing A. O. Barut's Theory to Mine with special emphasis on That Dot on the Screen

Discussions

• W. David Wick: That Dot on the Screen: also, what about Born? and other objections to wavefunction physics https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.17808 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2504.17808 https://arxiv.org/html/2504 [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]

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